The NTAG210 is an entry-level NFC chip designed by NXP Semiconductors within the NTAG21x family. Compliant with the ISO/IEC 14443 Type A standard and the NFC Forum Type 2 format, it offers 48 bytes of user memory. It can be read and written by virtually all NFC-enabled smartphones.
Information
| Manufacturer | NXP Semiconductors |
| Family | NTAG21x (NTAG210 / NTAG212) |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 14443 Type A (parts 2 and 3) |
| NFC Forum type | Type 2 Tag |
| Operating frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Data rate | 106 kbit/s |
| Unique identifier (UID) | 7 bytes, factory programmed |
| Operating distance | Up to approximately 10 cm, depending on the antenna and reader |
| Data retention | 10 years |
| Write endurance | 100,000 cycles |
| Total memory (EEPROM) | 80 bytes |
| User memory | 48 bytes |
Memory
The EEPROM memory of the NTAG210 is organized into 20 pages of 4 bytes (pages 0 to 19):
| Pages | Content | Access |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | UID, internal data and static lock bytes | Read-only (UID) / OTP |
| 3 | Capability Container (CC), initialized at the factory | OTP |
| 4 to 15 | User memory (48 bytes) | Read / write |
| 16 to 19 | Configuration: mirror, AUTH0, ACCESS, password (PWD) and PACK | Read / write, protectable |
In practice, the 48 bytes of user memory can hold an NDEF record containing a URL of around 40 characters, as the common prefix (https://www. for example) is compressed into a single byte by the NDEF format. This is enough for an identifier, a simple action or a very short link, but too little for most complete web addresses: encoding a short redirect link is essential here. As soon as the content exceeds a few dozen characters, the NTAG213 and its 144 bytes remain the reference choice.
Features & security
- Password protection: a 32-bit password (PWD), combined with a 16-bit acknowledgement (PACK), restricts write access, or even read access, from a page defined by the AUTH0 parameter.
- Permanent locking: the static lock bytes can switch the entire user memory to read-only irreversibly, an operation that can be performed directly from NFC Tools.
- ASCII mirror: the UID can be automatically inserted into the NDEF message (mirror function), for example as a URL parameter.
- Originality signature: an ECDSA signature programmed at the factory verifies the authenticity of the chip and helps detect certain counterfeits.
Unlike the NTAG213/215/216, the NTAG210 has neither the NFC counter nor dynamic lock bytes, as its reduced memory is entirely covered by the static locking mechanism.
Compatibility
The NTAG210 is compatible with virtually all NFC smartphones. On Android, reading and writing work natively with NFC Tools, without any particular restriction. On iPhone, automatic background reading is available from the iPhone XS and XR onwards; models from the iPhone 7 can read and write the chip via NFC Tools on iOS 15.6 or later, by starting the scan manually from the app.
With NFC Tools, the NTAG210 chip supports reading technical information, writing records, erasing, permanent locking and password protection. The list of compatible models is available in the article on compatibility.
NTAG210 vs NTAG212 vs NTAG213
| Chip | User memory | Max characters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTAG210 | 48 bytes | Around 40 characters | Identifier, very short link, very high volumes |
| NTAG212 | 128 bytes | Around 115 characters | Web link, simple action |
| NTAG213 | 144 bytes | Around 130 characters | The standard: links, business cards with redirect |
All three chips share the same general operation and the same compatibility. The NTAG210 is mainly justified for very high volumes where every cent counts; as soon as the content exceeds a few dozen characters, the NTAG212 or, better, the NTAG213 take over.
Frequently asked questions
How much data can be stored on an NTAG210?
The chip has 48 bytes of user memory, which corresponds to a URL of around 40 characters once the NDEF envelope is taken into account. Encoding a short redirect link is strongly recommended.
Is the NTAG210 compatible with iPhones?
Yes. Background reading works from the iPhone XS and XR onwards, and both reading and writing are possible via NFC Tools from the iPhone 7 on iOS 15.6 or later.
Can an NTAG210 be protected against rewriting?
Yes, in two ways: a permanent, irreversible read-only lock, or a reversible 32-bit password protection. Both operations can be performed with NFC Tools.
What is the lifespan of an NTAG210?
Data retention is guaranteed for 10 years and the memory supports 100,000 write cycles, which far exceeds the needs of everyday use.
